Elena Dementieva, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, announced that she is retiring from the sport after she bowed out of the WTA Championships that started on Friday.
During a ceremony, Dementieva stated that it was rather hard to leave the sport she loved after playing for 13 years on the tour.
This year had been a hard one for the athlete as she struggled with numerous injuries, but nevertheless managed to win two titles. During her last match, Dementieva lost to Francesca Schiavone in a 6-4, 6-2 match. Schiavone was the French Open champion, and soon after her defeat, Dementieva made her announcement to the public.
The 29-year old said, “It is so emotional… It is so hard to say goodbye. I am going to miss you so much.”
The tennis star said that she had made the decision in the earlier part of 2010 that it would be her last season as a tennis player. She adds, “it was very emotional for me to play all year.”
Contrary to what others may have thought, her family did try to convince the player to extend two more years before fully retiring.
Dementieva said, “They were very surprised (by the decision)… I was really looking for some support. I think nobody was really happy about it, maybe except my boyfriend.”
At the end, all her rivals lined up to pay tribute including Kim Clijsters, Vera Zvonareva, and more.